September Extension Connection 2017

USPS-525-100

Extension Connection

YOUR LINK TO LOCAL, RESEARCH-BASED SOLUTIONS TO BETTER YOUR LIFE

VOLUME LXXXXVIII NO. 9

SEPTEMBER 2017

Hundreds of 4-H youth still exhibits and live animal displays were showcased at the 138th Grahamsville Little World’s Fair in August.

Upcoming U pcoming Events Events & Programs Programs Learn to Write a Business Plan FREE Gardening Seminar with Sullivan Renaissance Powerful Tools for Caregivers Tai Chi for Arthritis Series Credit Class at Liberty Library Cornell Country BBQ & Live Auction (Music by Alan Sorensen) Junior Gardeners: Cook the Harvest Savory & Sweet: A Taste of Fall with Natural Contents Quick Guide to QuickBooks See page 12 for more events!

Issue Isssue sue Highlights Hiigh ghliigh ghts Good Reasons for Good Record Keeping Corn Diseases & Plant Health in a Wet Growing Season Community Gardener Q&A Healthy Eating Tips to Try Move More with Go4Life!

Monthly DHI Report Community Guest Editorial: Sullivan Renaissance CCE Sullivan Spotlights See page 14 for a 4-H Youth Fair photo album spread!

Welcome W elcome to to the the Issue!

Issue!

Page 3 Letter from the Executive Director Page 4 Good Reasons for Good Record Keeping Page 5 Writing a Business Plan Page 6 Corn Diseases & Plant Health in a Wet Growing Season Page 7 Community Gardener Q&A: Cucumber Disease, Seedless Watermelons Page 8 Vampire Appliances

Table Table of of Contents Contents Page 9 Healthy Eating Tips to Try Page 10 Move More with Go4Life This September

Page 18 Community Guest Editorial of the Month Page 20 CCESC Spotlights

Page 11 Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate?

Page 22 Opportunities for You

Page 12 Upcoming Programs Page 13 Meat Preservation & Demonstration, Tasting

Page 26 Advancing Understanding of Self Injury among Youth & Adults

Page 14 4-H Youth Fair Album

Page 27 Fall Farm Fest

Page 16 In Case You Missed It

Page 28 Cornell Country BBQ Sept. 16 - Back to Our Roots!

Page 17 Monthly DHI Report

Page 24 Sponsorships

The Extension Connection (USPS-525-100) is published monthly for $25.00 enrollment by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, located at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Suite 1, Liberty, NY 12754-2903. Entered at Liberty, New York, as a periodical class matter.

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2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Donna Willi................................President Robert Kaplan...................Vice President John Kiefer.................................Secretary Dawn Boyes...............................Treasurer Todd Brown Amy Erlwein Pamela Fisk Sonja Hedlund John “JP” Lang Earl Myers Klu Padu Luisa Parker Glenn Pontier Marc McCarthy

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Edited by: Nicole Slevin & Colleen Monaghan

Produced by: Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

NOTICE: Official endorsement of advertisers and their products is not intended by the acceptance of their advertisements for the Extension Connection.

STAFF MEMBERS Colleen Monaghan............................................................................Executive Director SueAnn Boyd......................................................................Healthy Schools Coordinator Wanda V. Cruz...........................................................Healthy Communities Coordinator Dayna Gaeta.........................................................Community Horticulture Coordinator Beth Johnston-Groth..................................................................Administrative Assistant Marylin Jones..........................................................................4-H Program Coordinator Bonnie Lewis..........................................................................Dependent Care Educator Michelle Lipari...............................................................................Agriculture Educator Erica Lynch.......................................................................Catskills Kitchen Coordinator Melinda Meddaugh.....................................................Ag & Food Systems Team Leader Barbara Moran...............................................4-H Animal Science Program Coordinator Nicole Slevin.........................................................................Communications Manager Kaitlyn Smith......................................................................................Program Assistant Nat Tompkins............................................................................Agriculture Coordinator Tara VanHorn.......................................................................................Finance Manager Malinda Ware.................................Health & Community Development Program Leader Sean Welsh..........................Energy & Consumer Educator and Operations Coordinator John Wilcox.......................................................................Building & Grounds Manager

Extension Connection

September 2017

Dear Extension Friends: The following is adapted from a recent edition of The 4-H HeadQUARTERLY, a publication of United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).

A recent poll by Weber Shandwick found that 95 percent of Americans think a lack of civility is a problem. Committing to civil dialogue is one reason CCE Sullivan is able to work with families, government agencies, volunteers, young people, businesses, and others, to provide high quality, accessible, and meaningful learning experiences and community activities.

As a grassroots, knowledge-sharing and relationship building program, Extension’s work is strengthened by its understanding of what influences different audiences and the information people use to make decisions. Our approach is to engage in dialogue with folks with differing perspectives and attempt to provide factual information and experiential opportunities that can be used by diverse groups of people to help make their lives better. The only way to marry differing perspectives and address complex or difficult issues, is to approach and expect dialogue from a place of civility.

Adapted from the Department of Justice Dialogue Guide: A dialogue draws participants to exchange information, share personal experiences, honestly express perspectives, clarify viewpoints, and develop solutions to community concerns. Unlike debate, dialogue emphasizes listening to deepen understanding. It develops common values and allows participants to express their own interests. It expects that participants decide to act together with common goals. In dialogue, participants question and reevaluate their assumptions. Effective dialogues: • Move to solutions with a focus on personal responsibility and constructive common action, rather than continue to express or analyze the problem, or blame/finger-point • Unite divided communities through respectful, informed sharing of local history and its consequences for different people in today’s society • Aim for a change of heart, not just mind.

CCE Sullivan’s federal parent agency USDA NIFA, invites us, and you, to make a personal pledge to follow the standards of conduct outlined by the National Institute of Civil Discourse at our sister land grant university in Arizona. As a staff, CCE Sullivan promises to do these things. We encourage you to stand with us, as we move through a time of great change and opportunity in Sullivan County, and the country. The pledge is as follows: To help revive civility and respect in my community, I will make a conscious effort to: 1. Seek out a variety of reliable news sources with different perspectives to learn more about the forces that divide, and also unite, our [county] country; 2. Listen respectfully to people who have views different than my own, be mindful to avoid stereotyping and not use language that is insulting or derogatory; 3. Encourage and support efforts to bring people of different points of view together in our community to have civil and respectful conversations; 4. Invite other people to join me and get involved in helping to connect people across divisions.

Together, through intentional practice and meaningful civil dialogue, Extension and our programs can be welcoming and engaging to everyone. Thank you for your consideration this month, and enjoy this year’s bountiful harvest!

Warm Regards,

Colleen Monaghan, Executive Director, cm638@cornell.edu

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September 2017

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GOOD REASONS FOR GOOD RECORD KEEPING Written by Nat Tompkins, Agriculture Coordinator

and putting numbers on paper gives a clear view of what has happened in the past.

managing the farm a lot less stressful, and operate more smoothly.

Good record keeping can be tedious, and often times it may seem like a waste of time. It ends up being one of those things you may not see the results of immediately. Often times ink in a notebook, or numbers on a spreadsheet aren’t a very tangible thing to make it feel worth it. However, it always is important to keep good records. We humans invented writing a long time ago for a reason. It’s because we forget bec Being the person stuff. sttu My dad has who runs a farm Writing down data on how many animals you have, what each ea ac one of my is hard, no matterr vegetable varieties are growing, dates for gestation siblings’ and my si ib what type of farm m periods, and a host of other things, can help you keep track birthdays written bir business you of what’s going on each day with the farm. down do ow on a card are operating. It in n his h wallet. The seems like there reason for this? He rea re are always a has a lot of other things going on, and income of $25,000 in 2016. However, I million things to do, and only enough doesn’t want to forget them! When in have no idea how much of that came time to get ten of them done. Adding doubt, get it out! Writing down good from selling at farmers’ markets, or record keeping to the list certainly records will never hurt your chances my on-farm stand, or both.

Good may not seem like a worthwhile at managing the farm better. record keeping can help me figure venture, or even feasible. You may that out. If I were to keep a simple even think to yourself, “What’s the tallied list of what got sold at each point of record keeping? If I don’t market each week. I would easily focus on producing, there won’t be know if I met my goal. When it comes anything to record anyhow”. You’re to reaching your goals, keeping not exactly wrong, but you’re not accurate records can help you know exactly right either. Good records can help you achieve your future farm which ones were met, and which ones weren’t. goals, and become a better producer A Quick Guide to over all.

Recording down information can also There are a lot of thoughts people have when they hear the phrase “record keeping”. Boring, not fun, migraine inducing, coma causing, and pointless are just some of those thoughts. Record keeping may be a lot of those things, and many more, but it certainly is not pointless! I also don’t think it causes comas either, but that’s neither here nor there.

Records can also help you look toward the future. Where do you want your farm to be in five years? What are your goals? Don’t have any? I strongly recommend you get some right away! Let’s say I made a goal for my farm in 2014 to sell $5,000 at farmers’ markets in 2016. How would I know if I accomplished it? My Schedule F tells the IRS that I made an

There’s a saying, “Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it”. Keeping good records can help you avoid making the same mistake twice. Our mind tends to trick us when it comes to memories.

We assign a subjective value to our activities and experiences, and believe they were bad or good, regardless of whether or not they were correct or efficient. Good record keeping can help us be unbiased in our decisions. Writing down or typing what happened on the farm,

help with general farm management.

It may seem like this is the same as monitoring your goals’ progress, but it is actually different. Writing down data on how many animals you have, what vegetable varieties are growing, dates for gestation periods, and a host of other things, can help you keep track of what’s going on each day with the farm. Instead of racking your brain trying to figure something out, or remember what happened with a specific animal, you would just check the notebook. This can make

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September 2017

Quickbooks

Oct 19 6-8 pm

Extension Connection

September 2017

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CORN DISEASES & PLANT HEALTH IN A WET GROWING SEASON Submitted by Michelle Lipari, Agriculture Educator The current 2017 wet/rainy weather and high humidity can create a situation where diseases can become an issue in corn. While there are several foliar diseases that can occur on corn under these conditions, gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight have been especially problematic over the last several years. Gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight can cause yield losses and the risk of infection may be an issue this year.

What should a grower do about it?

While applying protective fungicides is an option, there are several things to consider before spraying. Here are a few steps to follow when making a decision.

1. Scout fields for the gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight at tasseling. If there are lesions on leaves at or above the corn ear exceeding 5% of the plant leaf area consider a fungicide. If lesions develop later after tasseling, then economic benefits from using a fungicide will be less.

2. Does your hybrid have at least moderate resistance? This can make a big difference in yield and likely will not require a fungicide application.

Disease symptoms may be present in resistant corn, but a fungicide most likely will not increase yield.

3. Crop rotation and tillage is an effective method to control the fungi.

The longer the rotation the less inoculum will be on the surface. If you maintain no-tillage, zone-tillage, or reduced tillage rotating away from corn for 2 years can help reduce pathogen populations.

4. Fungicides can be very effective when disease exists above the economic threshold. However, fungicides are protective not curative, Page 6

so applications need to be made before the full extent of disease damage is known. It is generally not economical to spray fungicide on silage corn.

Gray Leaf Spot | Early symptoms are yellow to tan lesions with a faint watery halo. As the lesion progresses, it turns brown and is rectangular in shape, between the veins. When fully developed the lesion can be 3 to 4 inches long and a 1/6 to 1/8 inch wide. The fungus can overwinter on corn debris left on the soil surface.

Sporulation occurs during warm and humid weather in late spring. The spores can be transmitted by both wind and rain. In some cases gray leaf spot can reduce corn yields from 5 to 40 bushels per acre.

Northern Corn Leaf Blight | The symptoms are long, cigar-shaped lesions that are about a 1/8 to ¼ inch wide. The lesions can be many inches long. Lesions are grayish-tan and have a pigmented border. There are numerous races of the pathogen, some of which overcome resistance genes deployed in many of the corn varieties grown in NY. The fungus overwinters on corn crop residue from previous years.

evaluations to better understand the economic returns of using fungicides in this manner.

Forage Quality | There are numerous factors affecting the forage quality of corn silage. Major factors on overall quality include whole plant maturity at harvest, ear to stover ratio, and seasonal weather patterns. A healthy plant with minimal damage to plant tissue is able to mature to desired corn silage dry matter content in a more efficient and timely manner.

Mycotoxins | It is extremely difficult to predict the chances of mycotoxin issues in silage. It is important to recognize that mycotoxins only develop on living plant tissue and therefore the necrotic tissue resulting from leaf diseases are not an indicator of potential mycotoxin risk.

• Anthracnose

Plant injury to living tissue, where mycotoxins can develop, such as feeding damage on the ears and stalk do offer a pathway for disease organisms and moisture to get into the plant and wet conditions late in the growing season can increase the chances of mold development. Again it is very important to understand there is not a clear causal relationship, even when an ear or stalk mold is present it is not a sure indication that mycotoxins will develop. It is important to work with your nutrition consultant at harvest to test for potential mycotoxin issues.

Plant Health | Certain fungicides now carry a label for plant health benefits when used at the V4-5 stage and, if warranted, again at tasseling.

Product labels suggest potential yield and quality benefits from their use.

Cornell University is conducting field

Source: Wise, Ken, and Joe Lawrence. “2017 Corn Diseases and Plant Health in a Wet Growing Season.” Beef Cattle Management.

Accessed August 10, 2017. https://blogs. cornell.edu/beefcattle/2017/07/25/2017corn-diseases-and-plant-health-in-a-wetgrowing-season/.

Other foliar diseases of corn to look out for this season • Northern Corn Leaf Spot • Eyespot • Common Rust

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COMMUNITY GARDENER Q&A: CUCUMBER DISEASE Submitted by Dayna Gaeta, Community Hort. Coordinator

need to be sure. This can be done by contacting your local Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Question: What’s wrong with my cucumbers? They started wilting a few days ago and now the leaves are turning brown and the vines are dying. Frances, Eldred, NY

Bacterial wilt is very common because it is transmitted by both the spotted and striped cucumber beetle. The bacteria over-winters in the stomachs of the beetles and is transmitted in the early spring by their feeding on the foliage of the cucumber plants. The leaves will show evidence of pest damage, yellowing, and then shrivel to brown. The whole vine will wilt during high water stress.

The bacteria will eventually cause the vines to collapse and die. One way to determine if bacterial wilt is present (and it may not be the only pathogen present) is to cut a wilted stem at the base. When you touch a knife to the cut, you will notice white to clear strings of bacterial ooze as you move the blade away from the

Answer: There are many diseases that can affect cucumber crops; cucumber mosaic virus, bacterial wilt, powdery mildew, septoria leaf and fruit spot, and Phytophthora Blight are just a few. While it can be hard to tell which disease you are dealing with, Cornell University provides diagnostic keys on their Vegetable MD Online site to help. http:// vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell. edu/DiagnosticKeys/CucurFrt/ CucFrtKey.htm Samples can be sent into the Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic at Cornell University if you

cut. This test is not 100% reliable but it may lead you in the right direction when figuring out what is wrong with your cucumber vines. There are certainly resistant varieties but treating vines with a pesticide will not cure the vines. Using row covers in the spring, dusting with insecticide, and practicing crop rotation every 3 years can help keep the beetles and the bacterial wilt at bay. Remember that you should not compost diseased foliage. It should be buried in the ground or sent to the landfill to avoid spreading disease in the garden.

Source: “Bacterial wilt.” Bacterial wilt : Vegetables : Yard and Garden : University of Minnesota Extension. Accessed August 23, 2017. https://www.extension.umn. edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/ diseases-of-cucurbits/bacterial-wilt/.

COMMUNITY GARDENER Q&A: SEEDLESS WATERMELON Submitted by Dayna Gaeta, Community Hort. Coordinator Question: How are seedless watermelons grown if they don’t have seeds? Sandy, Roscoe, NY Answer: Seedless watermelons were first created in 1937, by Dr. Orie J. Eigisti, after he discovered that a chemical called colchicine, when applied to plants, could change the DNA structure of the plant. Colchicine is a chemical derived from the crocus plant that was commonly used to cure gout. The first seedless variety was called “313”, but seedless varieties did not take hold in the commercial market until the 1990’s.

To explain how seedless watermelons are grown, a short, somewhat complicated science lesson is needed. Watermelon plants are grown from the hard black seeds in a

watermelon. Watermelon plants are usually diploid, like us, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, the packages of DNA with instructions for life. When treated with colchicine, they produce tetraploid (4 sets of chromosomes) plants. When female tetraploid plants are crossed with a male diploid plant, a triploid (3 sets of chromosomes) results. Seedless watermelons are triploid. The odd number causes the watermelons to have immature, white “seeds” instead of the normal black, hard coated seeds. These “seeds” are sterile and the triploid plants are self-infertile. Therefore, seedless watermelon varieties (triploid) have to be pollinated by regular seeded varieties (diploid) in order to produce fruit. Farmers plant a row of regular watermelons after 2 or 3 rows of seedless watermelons out in the field to insure good fruit set.

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September 2017

Seedless watermelon varieties have also been bred for disease resistance and can have better color, sweetness, and rind than seeded watermelons and tend to store better according to some reports. There is often a “mealiness” that can be attributed and accelerated by the hard black seeds in seeded varieties. This happens less frequently in seedless varieties. A fresh picked melon is still far superior to one that has travelled a long distance to get to your refrigerator. Whether you like seeded or seedless, local farmers’ market or farm stand offers many different varieties of watermelons for your eating pleasure!

Source: “Seedless watermelon – how do they do that?” MSU Extension. Accessed August 28, 2017. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/ news/seedless_watermelon_how_do_they_ do_that.

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VAMPIRE APPLIANCES Submitted by Sean Welsh, Energy & Consumer Educator Today the average American home is brimming with consumer electronics and appliances- televisions, DVD players, stereos, kitchen gadgets, chargers, etc. Most of the time these appliances are turned off, but stay plugged in when not in use by the household. What many folks don’t realize, is those items continue to draw power when they are not unplugged. The power drawn is called phantom power, vampire power, leaking energy, or standby energy. Products with clock displays, remote controls, and other features also draw phantom power 24 hours a day when plugged in. A simple way to figure out if your appliance is drawing power is to touch the plug (transformer). If warm to the touch, it is drawing power. The amount of power drawn by an individual product can be as little as a few watts, and up to 40 watts. With a typical American home having as many as 40 or more products drawing phantom power, cumulatively they all can be responsible for up to 10% of the

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power bill!

Here are several ways to reduce phantom energy consumption: • Use a high quality power strip as a central power supply for clusters of computer, video (TV, DVD, video games, etc.), or audio products (receivers, amplifiers, etc.), so everything can be switched off with one action when the equipment is not in use. Do not overload a circuit with too many items plugged in, as it is dangerous. Most circuits in a home are 15 AMPs, but only use 75%, or about 11 AMPs. Look at the amount of AMPs that each item uses. Heating products use more AMPs than many other items. Contact an electrician or your local utility company if you need more information about AMPs. • Sometimes it is not possible or convenient to keep turning off a power strip. In such situations, Smart Power strips can be very useful by turning off plugged in equipment. There are three kinds of Smart Power strips - timer equipped, occupancy sensing, and current sensing (Energy Star, 2013).

• Timer Equipped: The power outlets of these strips are controlled by programmable timers for when plugged in devices will be automatically turned on or off.

• Occupancy Sensing: The power

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September 2017

outlets in these strips are sensitive to motion. The plugged in devices automatically get turned on in response to motion sensed, and turned off after a certain period of elapsed time.

• Current Sensing: These strips have a master power outlet and the rest of the outlets are controlled by this outlet. If the master outlet is turned on or off, the other devices are automatically turned on or off as well.

• Unplug chargers for cell phones and power supplies (the black cubes that convert AC power to DC) when equipment is fully charged or not in use.

• Enable power management features on your computer, monitor, and other office equipment.

• Avoid using a screen saver on your computer’s monitor; allow the monitor to switch to “sleep” mode, “hibernate” function, or turn it off when it’s not in use.

Source: “More IT Energy Saving Tips.”

Products | ENERGY STAR. November 5, 2013. Accessed August 08, 2017. http:// www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_ mgt.pr_power_mgt_more_tips.

HEALTHY EATING TIPS TO TRY THIS MONTH with trans fats, which increase the Submitted by Wanda Cruz, Healthy Communities Coordinator risk for heart disease. Good sources Good nutrition is really about having a well-rounded diet, and it’s easier to do than you may think. In fact, living a nutritious lifestyle can be easy and fun.

Nutrition is more than vitamins—it also includes fiber and healthy fats.

Foods with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are important for your brain and heart. Limit foods

of healthy fats include olive oil, nuts, seeds, certain types of fish, and avocados. Avocados are full of healthy fats.

Good nutrition is about balance, and that means not getting too much of certain ingredients, such as sodium (salt). Sodium increases blood pressure, which raises the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Most Americans consume about 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium 3 each day. This is much more than the e recommended amount of 2,300 mg r per p day (about one teaspoon of salt) in i the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for f Americans. Cut the sodium and bump up your fiber. b

sugar and lowers cholesterol levels.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (beans and peas) are good sources of fiber.

Replace chips and dips with cherries and berries, and aim for a variety of colors on your plate. Foods like dark, leafy greens, oranges, and tomatoes — even fresh herbs—are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals.

Source: “Healthy Eating Tips To Try This Month.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. March 16, 2017. Accessed August 28, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/ features/national-nutrition-month/index. html.

Fiber in your diet not only keeps you F regular, it also helps you feel fuller r longer.

Fiber also helps control blood l

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MOVE MORE WITH GO4LIFE THIS SEPTEMBER Submitted by Bonnie Lewis, RN Dependent Care Educator The third annual Go4Life Month is this September! Go4LifeÂŽ is an evidencebased exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at NIH, dedicated to helping older adults become and stay physically active. Older adults are encouraged to do a little more,

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work out a little harder, and try the four exercise types recommended for older adults: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Each week of September will be devoted to these exercises, which can be found at Go4Life Month Toolkit at www.nia.nih. gov/Go4Life.

hurdle to exercise. Health issues, mobility challenges, busy caregiving and work schedules, all of these and more are reasons to delay, or continually avoid, exercise. Here is a tip sheet to overcome those barriers to exercise and to help with your motivation! So now let’s get moving!

Adults of any age and capability occasionally need to overcome a

P.S. Have fun!

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4-H Youth Fair 2

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2017 Photo Album

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6 municipalities &

their school districts

signed on for CCESC

Worksite Wellness

More than 30 farmers went to Corn Plot Field Day

MUNICIPAL WELLNESS

MONDAY MINUTE THUNDER

Aug 1, 4, 15, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30

August 7, 14, 21, 28

The CCESC Creating Healthy Schools and Communities team provides technical assistance to the municipalities of Mamakating, Bethel, Thompson, Monticello, Fallsburg, and Liberty, and their school districts, in creating wellness in our towns and villages. The efforts support healthy worksites, opportunities for residents to walk and bike, and access to healthy foods around the community.

Our friends at Thunder Radio host a different CCESC program minute every Monday at 5:15 pm. Tune your radio to 102.1 to hear our program coordinators spotlight CCE opportunities that can help you live sustainably.

A HEALTHY WORKFORCE August 2, 3, 9 CCESC staff shared their expertise with seven summer youth employees this month offering workshops in the 40 Developmental Assets, Food Dehydration, Budgeting, and Simple Cooking Skills for Home. CCE is pleased to partner with Sullivan County Center for Workforce Development to help Sullivan County’s youth build workforce and life skills!

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS August 2, 8, 17, 30 The CCESC Caregiver Resource Center’s Caregiver Support Groups continued monthly conversational meetings in Callicoon, Grahamsville, Monticello, and Liberty. These groups are open to the public, free, and a great resource for folks who provide care for homebound, ill, or aging friends, relatives, and neighbors.

There’s even a group that meets via telephone. Call 292-6180 for more info!

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RENAISSANCE AWARDS

4-H Youth Fair showcased

Over 200 4-H animals and exhibits

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO JEFF BANK August 9 Creating Healthy Communities staff is working with CCESC partner, Jeff Bank, on a Worksite Wellness initiative. CCE will support Jeff Bank employees at all branches in creating a workplace environment that promotes health through access to healthy snacks and physical activity during the workday.

August 7 Staff from CCESC’s Ag, Communications, and Healthy Families departments joined Sullivan Renaissance at their Annual Awards Ceremony, held at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, to celebrate our partners, working together to make Sullivan County a great place to live, work, learn, play, and relax! Congrats to this year’s awardees! See page 20 for more on the awards granted to our 4-H clubs.

MONTICELLO FARMERS MARKET OUTREACH August 7 CCESC’s Catskills Kitchen continued outreach at the farmers’ market in Monticello, providing information on fresh food storage and preparation, nutritious recipes, and access to senior farmers’ market nutrition coupons and purchasing incentives for Sullivan County residents.

Shopping at farmers’ markets keeps your hard earned dollars circulating right here in Sullivan County, and supports your neighborhood farms.

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BACK PACK FOOD DRIVE August 9 The Creating Healthy Schools and CCESC staff teamed up with Sullivan Renaissance for a back to school backpack and food drive. Our own staff donated a crate of food for Sullivan County residents in need! Kudos, everyone!

4-H YOUTH FAIR FUN August 17, 18, 19, 20 Over 200 youths’ animal and still exhibits were showcased at the annual Sullivan County 4-H Youth Fair at the 138th Grahamsville Little World’s Fair. With horse, rabbit, poultry, goat/sheep, beef, and dairy shows, and hundreds of science, technology, engineering, arts, and technology projects, fairgoers got to see the future’s blossoming skills and talents!

See page 14 for photos from the fair.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION August 22 CCESC’s staff Diversity & Inclusion Committee met to share recent successes like inclusive signage and language on forms, Spanish translated materials and outreach efforts, as well as set future goals, and announce upcoming training opportunities and presentation in the community. CCESC is a safe space!

GOOD BUGS BAD BUGS August 23 The Junior Master Gardener Series continued with Entomology! Youth participants learned about beneficial and troublesome bugs, pollinators like butterflies, and more! The series takes place in the CCESC Extension Education Center’s eight teaching gardens.

CORN PLOT FIELD DAY

Sullivan County Center for Workforce Development youth summer program employees making tasty (and healthy) kale chips from the CCESC gardens.

August 31 In partnership with Delaware Valley Farm & Garden and Cochecton Mills, CCE Sullivan hosted more than 30 local agricultural producers and businesses over a BBQ lunch att the annual Corn Plot ecton. Participants Field Day in Cochecton. redits and learned earned pesticide credits ive ways to manage efficient and effective heir fields. annoying pests in their

DHI Report

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CATSKILL EDIBLE GARDEN PROJECT: STILL GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOOD ENTREPRENEURS Submitted by Denise Frangipane, prepare vegetables that have been grown in the school garden. The Sullivan Renaissance Executive experience gets them excited about Director eating fresh vegetables.

Sullivan Renaissance partners with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Catskill Mountainkeeper to bring healthy food to schools and communities. The Catskill Edible Garden Project (CEGP) has been “growing the next generation of food entrepreneurs” since 2012. We have been working with schools and community organizations to design edible gardens as living, educational and gathering spaces. These spaces allow children to experience sharing; engage in independent observation; learn about food and where it comes from; adopt healthy habits; reconnect with and explore their place in nature; build on a variety of school lessons; strengthen a sense of place AND create a sense of pride.

The Catskill Edible Garden Project works best when the host site and the school team are fully on board and engaged. We have been fortunate for the support of the school districts and the dedicated individual garden coordinators at each site. In some cases the gardens are connected to a school club, in others to a class or program. The greatest impact is realized when children are involved with planning, planting, caring for, harvesting, preparing, and then actually EATING what they have grown. It is a complete cycle that makes a connection and instills a sense of pride and understanding. It’s magical and fun!

The “Chef in the Classroom” program of the CEGP allows students to participate in a hands-on cooking demonstration. They work side by side with a professional chef to Page 18

This past year, Cornell Cooperative Extension introduced Sullivan Renaissance and our CEGP partners to Seed to Salad, a statewide gardenbased learning program that combines classroom experiences with hands-on activities in the garden. It has been a great experience for our garden sites and coordinators as it runs February through June, within the school calendar.

The CEGP is an excellent resource for students and our school community.

It offers real world experience and instills knowledge and healthy habits that can nurtured. We welcome parent and community involvement. Please give us a call at 295-2445 or 439-1230 to learn more about our work and how to connect. We would love to hear from you!

Sullivan Renaissance has evolved from an organization with the mission to enhance the appearance of Sullivan County; into a movement to build beautiful, healthy, active communities.

At our core, Sullivan Renaissance has been about beautiÀcation as a way to build community. Today, we are more than Áowers. We are municipal partnership, multicultural outreach, youth engagement, business assistance, edible gardens and creating a sense of place.

In many ways, Sullivan Renaissance and Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County have comparable missions. This allows us to work closely together to leverage resources and relationships.

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CEGP LOCATIONS SINCE 2012 • Cooke Elementary School, Monticello • Cornell Cooperative Extension, Liberty • Emma C. Chase Elementary School, Wurtsboro • Hebrew Day School, Kiamesha Lake • Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary School, Monticello • Liberty Elementary School • RJK Middle School, Monticello • Roscoe Central School • Sullivan West Elementary School, Jeffersonville • White Sulphur Springs | SC BOCES NEW THIS YEAR!

COMMUNITY GARDENS • Federation for the Homeless Vegetable Garden, Monticello • Main Street Community Garden, Liberty • Pearl Street Community Garden, Livingston Manor

Elisa Mendels, Social Emotional Wellness Facilitator and garden coordinator, presents the fruits of the students’ labor to the kitchen.

First graders at the George L. Cooke Elementary School in Monticello plant the lettuce, radish, and carrot seeds for the “seed to salad” garden-based learning project.

Cora Smith displays the harvest prepared for school lunch!

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CCE Sullivan Spotlights

4-H Spotlights

Volunteer Spotlight

Photos by Nick Piatek

HELENE GLATT Meet Helene Glatt! In April 2017, Helene completed the Master Gardener Volunteer training class and became a Master Gardener Volunteer! Helene shared that this was an item on her “bucket list” for many years. Helene is a tremendous asset to our Community Horticulture program and Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County. Since she moved to the area in 1983 from Brooklyn, NY, she has always loved working in her gardens. She first joined the Shawangunk Garden Club in 2014 where she could learn and share, and lend a hand. Helene is a very skilled gardener and is always upbeat and energetic. She loves volunteering at CCESC and shares her enthusiasm wherever she goes.

Did I mention that she also likes to bake? Her crumb cake is always welcome at gatherings (where the recipe is often distributed) and she has a knack for expertly decorating cupcakes for any occasion. When she’s not in the garden or the kitchen, she serves as the board secretary for the Shawangunk Valley Senior Citizens Center in Napanoch, NY. In her spare time, she loves traveling to see her two grown sons and the company of her husband, Ira. Welcome Helene and thank you!

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4-H HAYRAISERS

Staff Spotlight BETH JOHNSTON-GROTH Please join us in welcoming our newest team member. On August 1, 2017 Beth Johnston-Groth became the new CCESC Administrative Assistant and Receptionist. She brings with her several years of administrative experience and organizational skills.

Originally from Bergen County, NJ she moved to Sullivan County 20 years ago.

She’s married and has three amazing children, three fantastic step children and a house full of animals.

Beth is looking forward to meeting many new friends, seeing many old friends, and making a difference in the CCE Sullivan office.

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With scarcely two years of membership under their belts, the 11 members of the 4-H Hayraisers Club have been recognized for an interdisciplinary project combining educational activities in horticulture, environmental science, the arts, and community service.

Winners of the $3,000 First Place Award in the Sullivan Renaissance category of “Single Element Beautification Projects,” the Hayraisers also secured an additional Judges Choice Award of $250 in recognition of youth involvement.

The Hayraisers’ beautification efforts of the “Flyway by the Byway” project on Route 97 in Highland included replanting the garden in front of the Observatory, planting a pollinator garden, and adding interpretive signage and sculptures.

CCESC and its 4-H community are proud of the achievements of these young, new 4-H’ers. With members ranging in age from 6 through 9 years, special kudos go out as well to leaders Heather Jacksy and Jennifer Morgan and the club’s supportive parents.

CCE Sullivan Spotlights YOUNGSVILLE BUSY BEAVERS The Youngsville Busy Beavers Club took on the challenge of restoring a decade-old Youngsville School garden and ended up being recognized by Sullivan Renaissance with a $2,000 Second Place Garden Grant Award. In project work spanning several months, the 11 members ranging in age from 6 through 17 was also recognized with a Judges Choice Award of $250 highlighting that youth involvement.

The club’s goal to remove invasive and root-bound plants and then create a butterfly garden spanned learning activities in horticulture and environmental science in addition to their ultimate goal of community service.

Nominate a Star Know someone who de deserves spotlight? the shine of the spotli light?

Email Nicole Slevin:: nas96@cornell.edu du

CCESC and the 4-H community congratulate the Youngsville Busy Beavers’ continuing vitality and success. Chartered in 1976, the club remains strong under the current leadership of Mary Nosek and Sue Peters, with project leadership from Erin Everitt and Brandi Chevalier, and the involvement of its supportive parents.

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SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EVERYBODY CCESC Association Scholarship For General Public | Amount Varies

SULLIVANCCE.ORG | 845-292-6180 Deadline to Apply: Rolling

To stimulate interest in educational programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County. In the event of financial limitations that prevent a Sullivan County resident from receiving educational services, program fees may be partially covered by this scholarship. Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, and Sullivan Renaissance. Inquire with CCESC.

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ADVANCING UNDERSTANDING OF SELF INJURY AMONG YOUTH & ADULTS Submitted by Marylin Jones, 4-H Program Coordinator The Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery was launched in 2003 to understand what was believed to be a new and emerging behavior among youth and adults. Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue resulting in immediate damage, without suicidal intent and for purposes not culturally sanctioned. There is now a broad consensus among researchers and those who work directly with young people, that the phenomenon has increased over time, particularly since 2000.

Self-injury can include a variety of behaviors but is most commonly associated with intentional cutting of the skin, subdermal tissue scratching, burning oneself, punching objects or oneself with the intention of hurting oneself, or embedding objects under the skin. Self-injury can be and is performed on any part of the body, but most often occurs on the hands, wrists, stomach, and thighs.

The severity of the act can vary from superficial wounds to those resulting in lasting disfigurement. Tattoos and body piercing are not typically considered self-injurious unless undertaken with the intention to harm the body.

What defines self-injury has less to do with what it looks like (in what way someone hurts his/her body) than with the intention one has when doing it. Because NSSI can look so much like a suicidal gesture, it can be confusing and often frightening to those who see it but who do not know what it means. This is one of the reasons it is important to assess the why of the injuries as well as the what. The most paradoxical feature of Page 26

self-injury is that most of those who practice the behavior report doing so as a means of relieving pain or of feeling something in the presence of nothing. Indeed, studies find that most people with NSSI history report not considering suicide at all.

Reasons given for self-injuring are diverse. Many individuals who practice it report overwhelming sadness, anxiety, or emotional numbness as common emotional triggers. Self-injury, they report, provides a way to manage intolerable feelings or a way to experience some sense of feeling. It is also used as means of coping with anxiety or other negative feelings and to relieve stress or pressure. Those who self-injure also report doing so to feel in control of their bodies and minds, to express feelings, to distract themselves from other problems, to communicate needs, to purify themselves, to reenact a trauma in an attempt to resolve it, or to protect others from their emotional pain. Some report self-injury because it feels good or provides an energy rush, although few report doing for these reasons solely. Regardless of the reason provided, self-injury may best be understood as a maladaptive coping mechanism, but one that works – at least for a while.

individuals can be very difficult.

However, over the past halfdecade, an increasingly large and diverse set of studies have given a reasonably good picture of self-injury prevalence. In general, US studies tend to find that lifetime prevalence of common self-injury ranges from 12% to 37.2% in secondary school populations and 12% to 20% in young adult populations.

Self-injury prevention, a growing area of research, provides the following recommendations: • Enhance social connectedness. Those who practice self-injury report high levels of perceived loneliness, less dense social networks, less affectionate relationships with their parents, and a history of emotional and/or sexual abuse.

• Raise awareness in those working directly with youth, to recognize and respond to signs of self-injury behavior.

• Enhance capacity to cope and regulate emotional perceptions and impulses.

• Promote positive norms for helpseeking and communicating mental and emotional status and needs.

• Address sources of stress in external environment.

• Develop multi-level, interdisciplinary approaches whenever possible, combining components of an individual’s social network (personal, psychological, academic, physical).

• Educate youth to understand the role media plays in influencing behavior.

When it comes to self-injury, there is no one “profile.” Although media tends to represent self-injury as a largely female, middle to upper middle-class, white phenomenon, studies do not support this. In fact, there is no evidence for differences in self-injury by socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity.

The Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery offers a wealth of information and downloadable resources in its website Self-Injury and Recovery Research and Resources (SIRRR).

Because it often occurs in private, unless being treated for related conditions such as depression or anxiety, detecting self-injurious

Source: “About self-injury.” About SelfInjury and Recovery. Accessed July 21, 2017. http://www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu/ about-self-injury.html.

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